Last updated: February 25, 2026

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Digitail vs Shepherd Veterinary Software: Which Veterinary Software Is Better in 2026?

We compared Digitail and Shepherd Veterinary Software across pricing, features, ratings, and real-world fit to help you make the right choice for your veterinary practice.

Digitail

4.8

From $299/mo

Cloud-based

Shepherd Veterinary Software

4.8

From $299/mo

Cloud-based

Quick Verdict

Shepherd Veterinary Software wins on affordability and simplicity for solo vets and startup practices, while Digitail offers a broader feature set with AI-driven clinical tools for growing, multi-location clinics.

Digitail vs Shepherd Veterinary Software at a Glance

Feature	Digitail	Shepherd Veterinary Software
Starting Price	$299/mo	$299/mo
Deployment	Cloud-based	Cloud-based
Rating (G2)	4.7/5.0	4.8/5.0
Rating (Capterra)	4.8/5.0	4.9/5.0
Free Trial	Yes	Yes
Free Plan	No	No
Founded	2017	2020
Best For	Multi-location clinics, Growing practices, AI-forward teams	Start-up practices, Small clinics, Solo veterinarians
Key Features	AI SOAP notes (Tails AI) Automated charge capture Client communication app Inventory management Online booking Telemedicine Payment processing Reporting & analytics	Intuitive EMR Appointment scheduling Client communication Invoicing Inventory tracking Automated reminders Whiteboard Treatment plans

Digitail

Starting Price: $299/mo
Deployment: Cloud-based
Rating (G2): 4.7/5.0
Rating (Capterra): 4.8/5.0
Free Trial: Yes
Free Plan: No
Founded: 2017
Best For: Multi-location clinicsGrowing practicesAI-forward teams
Key Features: AI SOAP notes (Tails AI)
Automated charge capture
Client communication app
Inventory management
Online booking
Telemedicine
Payment processing
Reporting & analytics

Shepherd Veterinary Software

Starting Price: $299/mo
Deployment: Cloud-based
Rating (G2): 4.8/5.0
Rating (Capterra): 4.9/5.0
Free Trial: Yes
Free Plan: No
Founded: 2020
Best For: Start-up practicesSmall clinicsSolo veterinarians
Key Features: Intuitive EMR
Appointment scheduling
Client communication
Invoicing
Inventory tracking
Automated reminders
Whiteboard
Treatment plans

Overview of Both Tools

Digitail

Digitail is a cloud-based veterinary practice management platform founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Marketed as "ai-native, all-in-one platform for modern veterinary clinics", it serves 10,000+ teams and is best suited for multi-location clinics, growing practices, ai-forward teams. The platform supports Small animal, General practice, Multi-location practice types.

Shepherd Veterinary Software

Shepherd Veterinary Software is a cloud-based veterinary software solution founded in 2020 and headquartered in USA. Described as "pims built by a vet who got it", it serves growing rapidly and is best suited for start-up practices, small clinics, solo veterinarians. It supports Small animal, General practice, Start-up practice types.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

We evaluated Digitail and Shepherd Veterinary Software across six key areas that matter most to veterinary practices.

Clinical Features / EMR

Digitail wins

Digitail offers AI-powered SOAP notes (Tails AI), automated charge capture, and telemedicine. Shepherd Veterinary Software provides an intuitive EMR with treatment plans and a whiteboard, built from the perspective of a practicing veterinarian. Digitail has the broader clinical feature set, but Shepherd Veterinary Software's workflow design is praised for feeling natural to clinicians.

Scheduling & Booking

Digitail wins

Both offer appointment scheduling, but Digitail adds online booking and a mobile app for pet parents. Shepherd Veterinary Software keeps scheduling simple and focused, which suits small teams that do not need complex booking workflows.

Client Communication

Digitail wins

Digitail provides a full client communication app with telemedicine, while Shepherd Veterinary Software offers client communication and automated reminders. For practices that want a consumer-grade pet owner experience, Digitail is ahead. For practices that just need reliable reminders and messaging, Shepherd Veterinary Software covers the basics well.

Pricing & Value

Shepherd Veterinary Software wins

Shepherd Veterinary Software starts at $299/mo per location and offers a 50% discount for new practices, making it one of the most affordable options available. Digitail starts at $299/mo per veterinarian. For startup and solo practices, Shepherd Veterinary Software delivers far better value per dollar.

Integrations

Tie

Both tools integrate with major lab providers (IDEXX, Antech, Zoetis) and Stripe for payments. Digitail adds Covetrus integration. Shepherd Veterinary Software offers QuickBooks integration for accounting. The integration ecosystems are comparable for small-practice needs.

Ease of Use

Shepherd Veterinary Software wins

Both platforms are praised for intuitive design. Shepherd Veterinary Software was built by a veterinarian specifically to match how vets actually work, and users consistently rate it among the easiest PIMS to learn. Digitail also has a modern interface but includes more features, which adds some complexity.

Pricing Comparison

Digitail

Starting Price: From $299/mo
Pricing Model: Per veterinarian/month — Standard plan $299/vet/mo, Pro plan $379/vet/mo; volume discounts for 11+ vets; 20% off annual billing
Free Trial: Yes
Free Plan: No

Shepherd Veterinary Software

Starting Price: From $299/mo
Pricing Model: Per veterinarian/month ($99 each additional vet)
Free Trial: Yes
Free Plan: No

Prices shown are published starting rates. Actual pricing may vary based on practice size, contract length, and negotiation. Contact each vendor for a personalized quote.

User Ratings Comparison

Aggregate ratings from G2 and Capterra, the two leading B2B software review platforms.

Digitail

G2 Rating

4.7

Capterra Rating

4.8

Based on approximately 200 reviews

Shepherd Veterinary Software

G2 Rating

4.8

Capterra Rating

4.9

Based on approximately 80 reviews

Who Should Choose Digitail?

Based on our analysis, Digitail is the right choice if your practice matches any of the following profiles:

Multi-location clinics
Growing practices
AI-forward teams

Digitail Strengths

Pros

AI-powered note generation saves hours daily
Modern intuitive interface
Strong mobile app for pet parents
Frequent product updates

Cons

Higher starting price point
Relatively newer company
Some advanced features still in development

Who Should Choose Shepherd Veterinary Software?

Based on our analysis, Shepherd Veterinary Software is the right choice if your practice matches any of the following profiles:

Start-up practices
Small clinics
Solo veterinarians

Shepherd Veterinary Software Strengths

Pros

Built by a veterinarian — understands real workflows
Very intuitive interface
Affordable for startups
50% discount for new practices

Cons

Newer platform with fewer advanced features
Smaller ecosystem of integrations
Less suitable for very large hospitals

Our Recommendation

The right choice here depends almost entirely on your practice size and budget. If you are a solo vet or opening a new practice, Shepherd Veterinary Software at $299/mo (with a 50% startup discount) is exceptional value. It does what a small practice needs without complexity you will not use. If you are a growing multi-location clinic that wants AI-powered notes and a full client app ecosystem, Digitail is worth the premium at $299/mo.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Digitail or Shepherd Veterinary Software cheaper?

Shepherd Veterinary Software is significantly cheaper at $299/mo per location, with an additional 50% discount for new practices. Digitail starts at $299/mo per veterinarian. For a startup practice, Shepherd Veterinary Software could cost less than half of what Digitail charges.

Which is better for a new veterinary practice?

Shepherd Veterinary Software was purpose-built for startup and small practices, with per-location pricing and a 50% startup discount. It covers all the essentials without overwhelming new teams. Digitail is better suited for practices that plan to scale quickly and want AI tools from day one.

Do both offer free trials?

Yes, both Digitail and Shepherd Veterinary Software offer free trials. Given their different price points and target audiences, trialing both is a good way to determine which complexity level your team actually needs.

Does Shepherd Veterinary Software have AI features like Digitail?

Not currently. Digitail's standout feature is its AI-powered SOAP note generation (Tails AI), which Shepherd Veterinary Software does not offer. If AI-driven documentation is a priority, Digitail is the clear choice. Shepherd Veterinary Software focuses on intuitive manual workflows designed by a practicing vet.

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